Virus-like intercellular communication in the nervous system
Dr. Jason D. Shepherd, University of Utah
Abstract: The immediate early gene Arc is critical for long-term associative memory consolidation in mammals. We discovered that the Arc gene evolved from an ancient retroviral element and has retained viral-like biology, such as capsid formation. Arc capsids are released from neurons in extracellular vesicles that can deliver Arc mRNA. This intercellular signaling mediates a novel form of intercellular synaptic plasticity. Arc-like genes are also present in the fly lineage, which evolved independently from another repurposed retrotransposon. Strikingly, the fly Arc proteins also form capsids and are involved in plasticity and learning in Drosophila, a striking example of convergent evolution.
Jason Shepherd Lab website.
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